Apparatus for separating oil from water.



No. 779,492. PATENTED JAN. 10, 1905. W. J. MGKNIGHT.

APPARATUS FOR SEPARATING OIL FROM WATER.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 9, 1903.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1v H1 1 II ll IIHIW 'WIHI' I Witnesses. F3

No. 779,492. PATENTED JAN. 10, 1905.

W. J. MOKNIGHT:

APPARATUS FOR SEPARATING OIL PROM WATER.

APPLIOATION FILED DEC. 9, 1903.

Fig. 3. 9 1o 1 4 3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

No. 779,492. PATENTED JAN. 10, 1905. W. J. MOKNIGHT. Y APPARATUS FOR SEPARATING OIL PROM WATER.

APPLICATION FILED 1330.9, 1903.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

Witnesses. Inventor.

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ii I Attorney UNITED STATES Patented January 10, 1905.

PATENT OFFICE.

\VALTER J. MOKNTGHT, OF BUFFALO, NEWV YORK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 779,492, dated January 10, 1905. Application filed December 9, 1903. Serial No. 184,456.

To all 1071,0771, it may concern:

Be it known that I, WALTER J. McKNIeHT,

a citizen of the United States, residing at Buf' falo, in the county of Erie and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Separating Oil from Water, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an apparatus for separating oil from water before the water is returned to the boiler.

The apparatus is chiefly adapted to be used in connection with heating systems where the water is returned to the boiler and used again after passing through the heating system.

One of the features of the invention has reference to a valve automatically controlled by the level of the water in the receiver and controlling the operation of a pump connecting to the receiver, so that the water in the receiver will be automatically maintained at about the same level.

Another feature has reference to an airconducting pipe which connects to the pipe leading to the pump and nullifies the suction force when the water lowers to a certain level to prevent the pump drawing all the water from the receiver.

The object of the invention is to produce an apparatus which is simple in construction and efficientand automatic in operation.

The invention also relates to certain details of construction, all of which will be fully and clearly hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a front elevation of the improved apparatus. Fig. 2 is a central vertical section on line a a, Fig. 3. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section through the receiver-tank on line b b, Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is an enlarged horizontal section through a portion of the receivertank, showing the device for automatically regulating the flow of water from the tank. Fig. 5 represents a side elevation of the pump and a vertical central section on line 0 c, Fig. 2, through the receiver of the improved apparatus, with aside elevation of the float and its angular arm and the chain connecting the float-arm to the valve. Fig. 6 is a fragmentary enlarged vertical section through the steam-pipe and butterfly-valve on line (Z (Z, Fig. 7, also showing a side elevation of the valve-operating arm and counterweight and a fragment of the connectingchain. Fig. 7 is an enlarged horizontal section on line 0 c, Fig.- 6, and a top plan view of the arm, counterweight, and chain fragment shown in Fig. 6.

In referring to the drawings for the details of construction like numerals designate like parts.

The receiver-tank 1 is provided with a closed top 2and bottom 3 and is supported upon a stand 4:, which is preferably formed as shown in Figs. 2, 3, and 5. The receiver-tank 1 is provided with two vertically-extending partitions 5 and 6, which extend transversely from side to side. The partition 5 extends from the top 2 of the tank to within a short distance of the bottom 3 and divides the tank into two compartments 7 and 8. The partition 5 is secured to the side of the tank 1 and the top 2 by angle-irons 9, which are securely riveted to the partition 5, the tank 1, and the top 2. (See Figs. 2 and 3.) The partition 6 extends from the bottom 3 of the tank to approximately midway of the height of the tank and is secured to the tank 1 and bottom 3 by angle-irons 10, securely riveted thereto. A short pipe 11 is screwed into the top 2 of the tank and communicates with the compartment 7. This pipe 11 is connected, by means of a T 12, nipple 13, and elbow 14, with a vertically-extending return-pipe 15. which is provided with a valve 16. This return-pipe 15 is connected at its other end with the heating system and conducts the water from the heating system into the receiver-tank 1. A pipe 17 is connected with the T 12 by means of an elbow 18, and the purpose of the pipe 17 is to supply fresh water to the tank 1, and thus offset the leakage of water in the heating system. The flow of water through the pipe 17 is regulated by a valve located in the pipe near the meter.

A short pipe 19 extends through the side of the tank 1, about midway of the height of the tank and directly opposite the point of entrance of the pipe 11. This pipe 19 is connected with two vertically-extending pipes 20 and 21 within the tank by means of a T 22 and to a downwardly-extending pipe 23 outside the tank by an elbow 24. (See Fig. 2.) The pipe 20 extends downwardly from the T 22 to within a short distance of the bottom 3, and the pipe 21 extends vertically upward from the T 22 through the top 2 of the receiver-tank and terminates a short distance above the top. The purpose of the pipe 21 is to supply air to the pump-pipe 23 when the water in the receiver reaches the level of the pipe 19, and thus destroy the suction and prevent the pump drawing all the water from the receiver should the automatic shut-off valve device fail to work. The pipe 23 is connected to the pump which supplies the boiler with the water from the receiver-tank 1.

The mechanism for separating the oil from the water is shown in Figs. 1 and 3. Two short pipes 25 and 26 extend through the side of the tank 1, near the top thereof, the pipe 25 communicating with the compartment 7 and the pipe 26 communicating with the compartment 8. The outer ends of the pipes 25 and 26 are screwed into Ts 27 and 28, and nipples 29 and 30 connect the Ts 27 and 28 with two angle-valves 31 and 32, which are screwed upon the upper ends of verticallyextending pipes 33 and 34. Two short pipes 35 and 36 have their inner ends screwed into the receiver-tank 1, near the bottom thereof, and their outer ends connected to the vertical pipes 33 and 34 by means of Te 37 and 38. The pipes 35 and 36 communicate. respectively, with the compartments 7 and 8 and are provided with valves 39 and 40. A horizontally-extending pipe 41 is connected at one end to the lower end of the vertical pipe 33 by an elbow 42 and at the other end to the vertical pipe 34 by means of a T 43. The pipe 34 is connected to a waste-pipe, so as to carry off the oil which is drawn from the water within the tank 1. Two short vertically-extending pipes 44 and 45, which are provided with valves 46 and 47 have their upper ends screwed into the Ts 27 and 28, re spectively, and their lower ends screwed into elbows 48 and 49. Short pipes 50 and 51 are screwed into the elbows 48 and 49.

The device forautomatically controlling the flow of waterfrom the tank 1 is illustrated in Figs. 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7. Two short pieces of pipe 52 and 53 are screwed into the partition 5 and the tank 1, respectively, near the top thereof, and serve as bearings in which one portion, 54, of an angular rod is supported. A rod 55 has one end connected to the portion 54 of the angular rod and carries a float 56 at its other end, by means of which the angular rodis operated. The portion 57 of the angular rod has a counterweight 58 attached thereto and is connected, by means of a chain 59, to a butterfly-valve 64 on the steam-pipe 65, which supplies the boiler feed-pump 66 with steam. Abushing is screwed into the outer end of the pipe 53 to prevent leakage.

In the preferred construction shown in Figs. 5, 6, and 7 the steam-pipe is formed in two sections, which are connected by atubular coupling 64, the interior of which constitutes a valve-chamber in which a valve-leaf 67 is pivoted by a pin 68. (See Figs. 6 and 7.) The leaf 67 is provided with beveled surfaces which are adapted to come into contact with beveled portions upon the inner surface of the valve-chamber, and thus prevent the steam from passingthrough the pipe and into the pump 66. The leaf 67 of the valve 64 is operated by a crank or lever 69, secured to one end of the pin 68 and to which one end of the chain 59 is fastened. (See Fig. 5.) Aweight 7 O is secured to the outer end of the lever 69 and serves as a counterbalance to open the valve when the chain 59 is slacked by the water rising in the tank. When the water in the tank rises, the float 56 moves the portion 57 of the angular rod upwardly and slackens the chain 59. This allowsthe weight 70 to draw down the lever 69, and thus operate the pump 66 faster by permitting more steam to pass through the valve. When the waterlevel falls in the tank, the portion 57 of the angular rod moves downwardly and pulls upon the chain 59. This causes the lever 69 to move upwardly and close the valve sufficiently to retard the speed of the pump, and so permit the water in the tank to rise. A pipe 71 conducts the water from the pump 66 to the boilers. Pulleys 72 may be attached to the ceiling or walls to support the chain 59.

The receiver-tank 1 is provided with a water-gage 61 and with a hand-hole 62, located near the bottom of the tank, by means of which any sediment which may collect may be removed. A manhole 63 is located in the top 2 of the tank, by means of which access may be gained into the interior of the receiver-tank. When it is desired to collect the oil, the angle-valves 31 and 32 are closed and the valves 46 and 47 are opened and the oil drawn through the pipes 44 and 45 into any convenient receptacle. When it is desired to clean the tank, the valves 39 and 40 are opened and the water drawn through the pipes 35 and 36 into the pipe 34.

The operation of the apparatus is as follows: The water from the heating system is admitted into the compartment 7 of the receivertank from the pipe 15 and passes beneath the compartment 5 and over the compartment 6. The oil being lighter than the water collects on the surface thereof. until the level of the.

water reaches the pipes and 26, when the oil is drawn off and conducted to the waste pipe by means of the pipes 33 and 84 and L1. The water for feeding the boiler is drawn from near the bottom of the tank through the pipes 19, 20, and 23 to the pump and thence to the boiler. When the flow of water into the tank is greater than the flow from the tank, the water as it rises in the tank will carry the float 56 upwardly and operate the angular rod. The angular rod, by means of the chain 59, in turn operates the butterflyvalve on the steam-pipe of the pump and increases the speed of the pump. As the water level falls the float drops and partially closes the steam-valve, and thus checks the flow of water from the tank. If for any reason the automatic float device should become inoperative, as soon as the water-level had reached the pipe 19 the pump would begin to suck air through the pipe 21, which is open at the top, instead of water, and thus prevent the tank from being entirely emptied.

I claim as my invention- 1. In an apparatus of the class described, a receiver-tank provided with a plurality of vertical partitions which divide the tank into a series of compartments; one at least of said partitions extending from the top of the tank to within a short distance of the bottom and another at least extending from the bottom to a distance above the lower end of the firstmentioned partition, an inlet-pipe connecting to the top of the receiver-tank and communieating with one of the compartments, an outlet-pipe connecting to the side of the receivertank and communicating with another compartment and an automatic device controlling the flow of water from the tank, substantially as set forth.

2. In an apparatus of the class described, a receiver-tank divided vertically into compartments by two partitions which extend respectively from the top and bottom of the tank and have their unattached ends extending or lapping by each other and separated sufficiently to provide a passage-Way for water, a

vertical outlet-pipe within one compartment with its lowerend extending to near the bottom of the tank, an air-pipe extending through the tank and connecting to the outlet-pipe, an inlet-pipe communicating with another compartment and a device controlling the flow of water from the tank arranged to be automaticallyoperated by the rise and fall of the water-level within the tank, substantially as set forth.

3. In an apparatus of the class described, a receiver-tank divided vertically into compartments by two partitions which extend respectively from the top and bottom of the tank and have their unattached ends extending or lapping past each other and separated sufflciently to provide a passage-way for water, an inlet-pipe, an outlet-pipe, a pump connecting to the outlet-pipe, a valved device controlling the operation of the pump and mechanism automatically operated by the water-level in the tank controlling said valved device, substantially as set forth.

In an apparatus -of the class described, a receiver-tank divided vertically into com partments by two partitions which extend respectively from the top and bottom of the tank and have their unattached ends extending or lapping past each other and separated sufficiently to provide a passage-way for water, a vertical outlet-pipe within one compartment and with its lower end extending to near the bottom of the tank, an air-inlet pipe communicating with the outlet-pipe, and an inletpipe communicating with another compartment and a device controlling the water-supply arranged to be automatically operated by the rise and fall of the water-level within the tank, substantially as set forth.

5. In an apparatus of the class described, a receiver-tank for separating oil from water and having a water-inlet and a water-outlet, an oil-outlet and separating-partitions, apump connectingto the water-outlet, afloatin the tank, a valve automatically operated by the float and controlling the operation of the pump, and an air-inlet pipe connecting to the water-outlet and arranged to introduce air to destroy water-suction when the water lowers to acertain level, substantially as set forth.

6. In an apparatus of the class described, a receiver-tank for separating oil from water and having a water-inlet and a water-outlet, an oil-outlet and separating-partitions, a pump connecting to the water-outlet, a float in the tank, a valve automatically operated by the float and controlling the operation of the pump, and independent means for nullifying the water-suction of the pump when the water lowers to a certain level, whereby the pump is prevented from entirely emptying the receiver-tank, even if the float and valve device become inoperative, substantially as set forth.

In an apparatus of the class described, a receiver-tank having means for separating oil from water and provided with a water-inlet, a water-outlet and an oil-outlet, a pump connecting to the wateroutlet, a valved device controlling the operation of the pump and mechanism automatically operated by the water-level in the tank controlling said valved 'deviee, substantially as set forth.

8. In an apparatus for separating light floating impurities from water, such as oil, a receiving-tank having an inlet for the un purified water, means for separating the light floating impurities from the water, an outlet for the water after the impurities have been sepa- ICO rated therefrom, and a separate outlet for the light impurities, and an automatic device controlling the flow of water through the wateroutlet, substantially as set forth.

9. In an apparatus of the class described, a receiver-tank having means for separating light floating impurities, such as oil, from water and provided with a water-inlet, a water-outlet and an oil-outlet, a pump connecting to the water-outlet, and means for nullifying the water-suction of the pump when the water lowers to a certain level, whereby the pump is prevented from entirely emptying the receiver-tank, substantially as set forth. VALTER J. MOKNIGHT. Vi tnesses:

L. M. SANGSTER, G100. A. NEUBAUER. 

